OnSide welcomes the publication of the new National Youth Strategy, the first youth strategy in over 15 years

The Strategy recognises the unprecedented isolation young people are experiencing and their clear desire for more in-person connection: safe places to go, better mental health support, greater access to enriching opportunities, and the tools to navigate both online and offline worlds positively.

These findings closely reflect our own research, Generation Isolation, which shows a consistent and concerning picture of young people’s social lives becoming increasingly digital, often solitary, and too often disconnected from the real-world experiences that help them build belonging and confidence.

If we are serious about helping young people thrive, we must invest in the spaces, activities, and trusted adult role models that make real-life connection, friendship, guidance, and opportunity possible for every young person.

Today’s Strategy is a welcome step forward. Its commitments including investment in new and existing youth spaces, rebuilding local capacity, and strengthening the vital youth sector workforce, acknowledge what young people need and what the sector has long been calling for.

After years of underfunding, however, rebuilding the youth work ecosystem will require sustained investment, clear accountability, and strong collaboration across government and the wider sector.

OnSide looks forward to working with partners across the sector and Government to help turn the ambitions set out today into meaningful change for young people across the country.

Responding to today’s Strategy, CEO Jamie Masraff said:

Today’s National Youth Strategy is a significant step forward in prioritising young people and the vital support they deserve, through recognising the essential role of youth work and committing further investment in the skilled workforce behind it.

The pledge to ensure trusted adults, especially youth workers, are present where and when young people need them most is particularly welcome, as is the investment to refurbish existing youth centres and build new facilities across the country. At OnSide, we see every day the extraordinary difference youth workers and youth centres make for thousands of young people across our Network of Youth Zones.

We hope this Strategy marks the end of the long-term decline in youth services and the beginning of a renewed, ambitious partnership between Government and the youth sector. Young people need this Strategy to succeed — for their futures, and for the future of the country.”